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Glite Dictionary
to have a bite

to have a bite

17 1.8
Eat a small amount of food as a quick snack
  • phrasal verb
translation icon : comer algo
  • Go ahead and have a bite.
  • have a bite to eat
  • Let's have a bite
  • go and have a bite

People are going to want to stop at rest stops, malls, but like obviously restaurants and things like that where it's easy to take a break and have a bite to eat.

Examples

Synonyms

to eat
vsto have a bite
∞ 1.0

Put food or drink into your mouth, chew it and swallow it

specifies consuming only a small snack or a light meal rather than any eating
to nibble
vsto have a bite
56 2.0

To eat small, gentle bites slowly or a little at a time

refers to a small snack or light meal rather than tiny repeated mouthfuls
to take a bite
vsto have a bite
49 1.4

To eat a small piece of food or reduce something a little

denotes a small snack or light meal rather than a single taste
to grab a bite
vsto have a bite
  • Informal
30 2.9

Eat a quick meal when you are busy or in a hurry

is a small snack or light meal used more generally than hurried meals
to snack
vsto have a bite
27 1.0

To eat a small amount of food between meals

is a small light meal generally rather than only between main meals
to snack on
vsto have a bite
10 2.5

To eat small amounts of food between meals

is the general small meal idea, not limited to one food type
to peck
vsto have a bite
9 3.4

To eat small, quick bites like a bird

refers to a light snack or small meal rather than quick birdlike mouthfuls
to pick at
vsto have a bite
5 4.6

Eat very small amounts of food when not feeling hungry

means a small snack or light meal usually eaten willingly
to nosh
vsto have a bite
  • Informal
4 8.2

To eat a small snack between meals

is the neutral phrase for a small snack or light meal
to peck at
vsto have a bite
1 4.7

To eat only a little food and not show interest

is a normal small snack or light meal eaten without hesitation

Antonyms

to refuse
716 1.7

To say no to a request or offer

How Much

to feast
31 2.3
to snack
27 1.0
to have a bite
17 1.8
to nibble
56 2.0

Surface Forms

have a bite infinitive
had a bite past
had a bite past participle
having a bite present participle
has a bite third person singular

Morphology

have + a + bite

The meaning 'to eat a small amount of food' is directly derivable from combining 'have' (to consume) with 'bite' (a small mouthful); 'a' is just a determiner. This verb + noun collocation is a common, compositional pattern found across languages, so a B1 learner who knows the constituent words would readily understand it.

Etymology

Have a bite comes from the simple image of have plus a small bite of food, like taking one quick mouthful. So it means 'to eat a small amount' or to have a quick snack.